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  • Rhubarb

    I'm growing rhubarb for the first time and I'm not really sure what to do. I found out that I shouldn't take any rhubarb the first year but what do I do with the stalks that are growing? Do I just leave them to die back or do I need to cut them at sometime?
    Susiewoosie

    A novice but keen to learn

    My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

    My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

  • #2
    Hi SW - I'm no the world's best at rhubarb but I really cosseted mine for the first year and didn't pick any at all - just top dressed with well rotted manure. This year it has done really well and now it is beginning to die down, it will get a good bucketful of compost over the crown (but we have pretty mild winters here) and the leaves will get put in the compost when they die back just to tidy the place up. You may want to protect the crown a bit more as you are much further north. Then the second year only pull a bit - and stop round the end of June. Mine is now well established and I'm not sure what variety it was but it was tender to use well into August. Mine gets very dry though, so I have to keep on watering. (Yesterday the whole patch was like a dust bowl). Hope this is helps - but other grapes may have much wiser words to add!
    Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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    • #3
      Thanks Jeanie. It was really hard not to pick any this year. Everytime I went into the garden it was shout rhubarb crumble, rhubarb crumble lol.
      Susiewoosie

      A novice but keen to learn

      My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

      My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

      Comment


      • #4
        It is pretty hardy stuff. I just let my (more mature) crown die down after my last picking in July then tidy it up when the leaves are finished. A darn good dose of general fertiliser in spring is a good idea. If you want to force it then wait at least 3 years and then only force every third year. As Jeanied says, loads of water in spring and summer, they are very thirsty.
        Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

        Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
        >
        >If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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        • #5
          Let the leaves die down. They sort of make a natural mulch. Pick in spring and summer next year but again, let the leaves feed the crown in autumn.
          Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

          www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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          • #6
            Thanks guys. It doesn't show any sign of dieing down at the moment. Should I be worried about that or should I just wait?
            Susiewoosie

            A novice but keen to learn

            My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

            My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

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            • #7
              we are just down the road from you,so put a topdressing of compost onto the crown and cover that with leafmould/barkchips, and do not pull any stems first year,next year just pull a few stems at a time,and none after august,when it will be time to feed it again,you can then crop it properly.after about four years ,lift the crown in autumn/winter,and split it,replant and feed again.apart from splitting,they are virtually carefree.so just enjoy the taste and years of it.a dose of chicken pellets in the spring will always help(we do get a bit of rain now and again round here,which tends to wash away what is put on in autumn)
              Last edited by BUFFS; 07-10-2009, 02:06 PM.

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              • #8
                As has been said above, let them die down, and dont worry if it isnt just yet, it will.
                Once its all died back, chuck manure over it, then leave it till spring, when you'll start to see the leaves coming back again.
                'Tis very hardy stuff, so I shouldnt worry too much, you will hear many stories of people doing sweet nothing at all with/to their rhubarb and it grows year after year.
                Bob Leponge
                Life's disappointments are so much harder to take if you don't know any swear words.

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                • #9
                  Thanks Bob n Buffs. Mine is in a raised bed do I still need to split it?
                  Susiewoosie

                  A novice but keen to learn

                  My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

                  My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by susiewoosie View Post
                    Thanks Bob n Buffs. Mine is in a raised bed do I still need to split it?
                    Don't worry at all. A raised bed is just the same as the ground but more convenient.

                    You don't have to split it ever. But if you want it at it's most productive then every few years it should be split to rejuvenate it. If you ever want forced rhubarb (miles better than the naturally grown) then because you can only force every few years (it tires the plant out) then you do need several crowns for a steady supply. But my father ran his rhubarb for about 15 years with just the odd bucket of manure (we did try to get him to call it fertiliser but it took 30 years to get him to call it manure). There was always enough for our family of four when I was a child and teenager
                    Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

                    Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
                    >
                    >If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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                    • #11
                      As Sarraceniac says, no difference, but just make sure you water if you have dry spells, as rhubarb can be quite thirsy, and raised beds do tend to dry out quicker than the surrounding soil.
                      Bob Leponge
                      Life's disappointments are so much harder to take if you don't know any swear words.

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                      • #12
                        Mines' not offering to die down yet either. Don't worry. It'll be fine.
                        Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                        www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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                        • #13
                          Thanks for all the advice. I'm looking forward to lots of rhubarb next year. Oooh Rhubarb crumble.
                          Susiewoosie

                          A novice but keen to learn

                          My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

                          My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            More rhubarb advice please

                            Hi,

                            My partner and I really want to get some Rhubarb. When is the best time of year to buy and from where? Mail order or garden centre?

                            Thanks in advance.

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                            • #15
                              Jojo, I was given mine by a friend, as are a lot of people I expect.
                              If you know anyone who gardens or has a lottie, see if you can persuade them to split a crown and give it to you.
                              Cant offer any advice re purchase as never bought any.
                              Bob Leponge
                              Life's disappointments are so much harder to take if you don't know any swear words.

                              Comment

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